Fiesta ST Security - Remove OBD Fuse

[samzs1]

Hi All,

 

Looking at getting an ST to replace my Red Edition in the coming months, but am concerned about the amount of thefts etc. Have considered a Disklok but at over £100 I've become more interested in potentially just removing the OBD fuse, so that would-be thieves couldn't use the OBD port to take the car. This sounds like it would work in theory, however what is stopping a thief from opening the glove box, accessing the fuses and replacing the correct fuse? Does the glove box lock when the car is locked?

 

Cheers!

[StevenST13]

Unfortunately no the glove box doesn't lock when the car is locked. Removing the ODB fuse and relocating the ODB port is the one way to up security. But both both can be over come by a thief so getting a disc lock as well is also a good idea. Tbf I had a fiesta st2 and never had a problem with the security or anyone trying to steal it. I didn't do any of this on mine before I traded in for a focus red edition. 

[Jon84]

If a car thief is that good they are bypassing security via OBD2, would they really be after a Fez ST, or any Ford for that matter?

[lukespoor]

Dude come on, £100 to protect your pride and joy? It's a small price to pay. If you're prepared to be paying around £15,000 (will differ, totally dependant on model and age), then surely you can stretch another £100. 

If you protect the OBD port then fair enough, but you'll have more chance of someone putting your window through and finding out its protected, whereas a disklok will deter them hopefully immediately before even attempting to break any glass.

Edited November 4, 2016 by Stoney871

[lukespoor]

25 minutes ago, Jon84 said:

If a car thief is that good they are bypassing security via OBD2, would they really be after a Fez ST, or any Ford for that matter?

Yes, the FoST and FiST's are both very desirable cars.  

[Jon84]

4 minutes ago, lukespoor said:

Yes, the FoST and FiST's are both very desirable cars.  

Round my way you hear alot more about larger German Saloons being stolen by this method over a hot hatch. More return on the risk being able to sell it for more.

[TomsFocus]

I thought Fast Fords were the car of choice for Essex boys, Jon??  

I must admit, I don't see the attraction of stealing Fiestas, it's not even just STs, a lot of 'lesser' models seem to get stolen!  A Focus RS on the other hand is definitely worth stealing for what you'd get back.

Personally I couldn't be bothered with a Disklok, but I would want some very visual deterrent as well as disabling the OBD port, they'll smash a window before they even realise.

[samzs1]

Cheers for the fast replies chaps. Might get a Disklok after all. Perhaps few of these stickers for good measure too!

[Jon84]

9 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I thought Fast Fords were the car of choice for Essex boys, Jon??  

I must admit, I don't see the attraction of stealing Fiestas, it's not even just STs, a lot of 'lesser' models seem to get stolen!  A Focus RS on the other hand is definitely worth stealing for what you'd get back.

Personally I couldn't be bothered with a Disklok, but I would want some very visual deterrent as well as disabling the OBD port, they'll smash a window before they even realise.

haha, Wind back 20 years ago and you'd see many a White XR3i being knocked off!

The Towie Lads love a Audi A3 or a 2 series BMW at the moment! It's all about stretching your finance options to the max with a German car.

 

Agreed, a Focus RS is valuable, just like an Escort/Sierra Cossie was back in the day. STs are ten a penny on the roads now.

[Jon84]

4 minutes ago, samzs1 said:

Cheers for the fast replies chaps. Might get a Disklok after all. Perhaps few of these stickers for good measure too!

 

 1 watched in last hour

 

^^ I wonder who that was?! lol ^^

[GaryPL]

4 hours ago, samzs1 said:

This sounds like it would work in theory, however what is stopping a thief from opening the glove box, accessing the fuses and replacing the correct fuse? Does the glove box lock when the car is locked

The issue is that the OBD port is accessible without setting off an alarm. It's out of the coverage of the standard perimeter alarm, so they break a window, reach in, do their electronic wizardry, and away they go. The glovebox is within the coverage, so a thief is unlikely to persist when there are other easy targets.

So you have various options:

Remove the fuse - advantage is it's free and easy to do and is aesthetically clean. However, you will get a window smashed if someone tries to steal your car.

Put a.plate over, or move, the OBD port - same advantages and disadvantages above. Except it's more faffing about and it's a little bit of money.

Change the alarm in your car and/or get an electronic OBD port immobiliser - probably the most secure option as you can get one of those alarms that sounds when you get near the car. Obviously this is very expensive and it may have warranty implications.

Use a steering lock - moderately expensive and a visual deterrent. But removing and replacing it every time I use the car? Ugh. A pain in the backside. They are also really ugly and look dated.

You can use all or one of the above. I personally went with the OBD fuse and accept I may get my window broken. But I will still have my car.

[Tomson]

Ive installed the ProtectAVan OBD port box lock (Thatcham Approved) - Solid Steel with anti-drill locks. bolts to the chassis plate within the dashboard.

£135 all in - stickers for the windows to signpost its protected.

[Tom-B64]

1 hour ago, GaryPL said:

You can use all or one of the above. I personally went with the OBD fuse and accept I may get my window broken. But I will still have my car.

I'm looking to do the same, which fuse is it and does it disable anything else in the car?

[GaryPL]

 

3 hours ago, Tom-B64 said:

I'm looking to do the same, which fuse is it and does it disable anything else in the car?

Look in your manual for the fuse called "data link connector". Think in my car, it's fuse 31.

And no, it hasn't caused me any problems.

[Stoney871]

Cut the 12v supply wire and splice in a switch hidden under the dash.

If you need to use the port then just flick the switch and turn off again when finished.

Sent from my SM-G930F

[MarksST]

Love threads like this.

You've spent a lot of your hard earned money on a new car but £100 is too much to hopefully ensure you keep the car, lol

They're a pain to fit? no they are not, a few seconds and it's on or off.

The disklok looks ugly and outdated, Really? it looks like it does the job it was designed to do, it also a good visual deterent, I'd like to see what other "very visual deterent" that works as well.

Yes the STs may be ten a penny but they do get stolen a lot so it's worth doing something to keep it yours.

IMO, disklok, move the port and put it in a box behind the dash, take the fuse out, and VRI GAP insurance. 

 

[GaryPL]

40 minutes ago, MarksST said:

Love threads like this.

You've spent a lot of your hard earned money on a new car but £100 is too much to hopefully ensure you keep the car, lol

They're a pain to fit? no they are not, a few seconds and it's on or off.

The disklok looks ugly and outdated, Really? it looks like it does the job it was designed to do, it also a good visual deterent, I'd like to see what other "very visual deterent" that works as well.

Yes the STs may be ten a penny but they do get stolen a lot so it's worth doing something to keep it yours.

IMO, disklok, move the port and put it in a box behind the dash, take the fuse out, and VRI GAP insurance. 

 

Just because you don't understand or agree with someone else's reasoning and opinion, it doesn't automatically make you right.

[MarksST]

Doesn't mean they are either.

[GaryPL]

11 minutes ago, MarksST said:

Doesn't mean they are either.

I never said it does.

[Stoney871]

I use a stainless steel clutch pedal lock.

That plus my tracker and cctv on my parking spot pretty much covers it.

Sent from my SM-G930F

[TomsFocus]

18 hours ago, GaryPL said:

The issue is that the OBD port is accessible without setting off an alarm. It's out of the coverage of the standard perimeter alarm, so they break a window, reach in, do their electronic wizardry, and away they go. The glovebox is within the coverage, so a thief is unlikely to persist when there are other easy targets.

What sort of car alarm doesn't go off with the slightest breeze through an ajar window, let alone breaking a window?  I didn't realise the alarm didn't go off at all, I thought they were just able to stop it in seconds via OBD.  Seems like a pretty major design flaw tbh! 

[MarksST]

That theory comes from the securemycar video on YouTube, they didn't actually prove it using the RS they had, when you see CCTV of cars being stolen the smash the window and try to plug in asap, the alarm does go off though.

 

 

[GaryPL]

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

What sort of car alarm doesn't go off with the slightest breeze through an ajar window, let alone breaking a window?  I didn't realise the alarm didn't go off at all, I thought they were just able to stop it in seconds via OBD.  Seems like a pretty major design flaw tbh! 

There are other theories around drilling the doors and stuff too. But the alarm one, in my mind, would seem to be the most likely. Obviously others may have other ideas. Can always test it yourself by locking the car with the window open and seeing how far you can put your arm in I guess... Unless there's something that stops the alarm from arming in this instance?

In any case, removing the fuse should be enough to put them off. Takes time to get the door open, the glovebox removed and a fuse replaced before reconnecting to the OBD port.  I would hope that the alarm would be noticed by then, in a highly populated area!  If you remain worried - move/secure the OBD port, shove a steering lock on, garage your car or employ a guard dog! :)

[Stoney871]

Anything that makes a thief realise your car will take too long to steal and move on to the next one is worth an effort.

I know steering locks look a bit old fashioned but they will delay someone enough to deter them.

As I said earlier, I use a pedal lock for physical security and trust my tracker if the little scrot is clever enough to get past that and my CCTV on the parking space.

If I'm leaving the car for an extended length of time (airport parking and suchlike) I utilise a function of my Bluefin handset to remove the engine map and therefore render the car totally immobile.

Unless the scrot has 20 minutes to spare and just happens to have a Bluefin coded to my car with exactly the right data on it (100% impossible), it ain't going anywhere.

Sent from my SM-G930F

[GaryPL]

I think it's safe to say that, stopping short of picking the whole thing up, nobody is going to be nicking Stoney871's car!